107. The Possibility Of Hope

When I’m overwhelmed by the bleakness of the world, my suffering feels inevitable. Everything around me feels final and limiting. Meaning and purpose feel distant or even absent. My present situation feels like the only one available to me and any kind of change feels impossible.

In such a state, there is no way for me to break out of the cycle of suffering. My actions will be mostly reactions to my misery, attempts to temporarily assuage the pain I feel. But by acting in this way, I only guarantee further suffering down the road. I need to see what I must do to bring my suffering to an end, but I cannot because my attention is completely distracted.

My only hope is an encounter with compassion. If I can muster some self-compassion then I might be able to help myself. But otherwise, I will need the compassion of others to assist me. Compassion is action that meets needs, and when some of my needs are met, I gain an opportunity to be free enough from my suffering to see clearly again.

By allowing me to see, compassion opens my eyes to possibilities. When there are possibilities, there are new paths forward, new ways of acting, new sources of meaning and value. All of this creates hope, especially hope that life itself is possible. If there are new possibilities then I can learn more, I can imagine more, and I can do more.

In particular, I can try to grow my awareness of what it is to be a human being. With greater awareness, I can better understand my suffering and learn how to bring it to a more lasting end. I can become someone who spreads compassion rather than being only someone in need of it. I can help others see the possibilities I’ve found for myself, growing their awareness and renewing their hope, as well.

Instead of being trapped in an endless cycle of suffering, I join a different cycle — a cycle of ever greater awareness and compassion. This cycle is a deeply creative one. It turns by imagining and creating paths towards new awareness for myself and others. With more awareness, we also become more compassionate, and we help each other towards more hopeful and joyful lives.